Grizzly Business at Yellowstone

Run-ins with bears in and near Yellowstone have left four visitors injured this week.

Run-ins with wild bears saw four visitors to the West's iconic Yellowstone National Park injured this week, although there were no fatalities.

On Thursday morning, a grizzly bear charged a group of four hikers in Yellowstone, after they encountered a young grizzly bear — accompanied by its irate mother, writes the Associated Press.

Two of the party suffered injuries from the harrowing incident, including one victim with scratch and claw wounds. The hikers were luckily able to drive off both bears with a few hits of bear spray.

“They were following all the directions that we encourage people to do when they’re in the back country, which is hike in groups, carry pepper spray and make noise on the trail,” said Yellowstone spokesman Dan Hottle to ABC. “Unfortunately, a mother with cubs in the park is the most dangerous animal we have.”

In Thursday's second bear-attack incident, two private contractors engaged in habitat assessment work unknowingly came upon a sleeping bear, waking up the animal and causing it to charge, reports ABC News.

One man was bitten in the thigh and backside, while the other experience wounds to his hands as he attempted to ward off the bear with bear spray. Both suffered considerable injuries, but are expected to make full recoveries.